Climbing rose plant named ‘Margaret Mae’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of climbing shrub rose plant is provided which forms in abundance on a substantially continuous basis attractive clusters of fully double, deep pink blossoms having approximately 70–80 petals on average. The new variety is a spontaneous mutation of unknown causation of the ‘Meiviolin’ variety (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 6,892). The deep pink color can be readily distinguished from the white-pink color of the ‘Meiviolin’ variety. Vigorous vegetation is formed. The foliage is dense medium green with a semi-glossy finish. Excellent resistance to Black Spot and powdery mildew is displayed. Attractive dense ornamentation in the form of foliage and blossoms is made possible when the new variety is grown on a support.

Botanical/commercial classification: Rosa hybrida/Climbing Shrub RosePlant.

Varietal denomination: cv. ‘Margaret Mae’.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new variety of Rosa hybrida climbing shrub rose plant of the presentinvention was discovered during April, 2002 growing on a single specimenof the rose plant of the ‘Meiviolin’ variety (U.S. Plant Pat. No.PP6,892). It was growing in my cultivated rose garden at Riverside,Calif., USA. The rose is distinctive because of its color, which ismarkedly different from the parental variety. It was borne on one offive branches, with the roses of the other branches appearing to be trueto variety. I proceeded to preserve the new variety by carefullyremoving the other branches, allowing the new rose the full benefit ofthe root system. The new variety is believed to be a spontaneousnaturally-occurring mutation of the ‘Meiviolin’ variety of unknowncausation.

It was found that the new variety of climbing shrub rose plant of thepresent invention possesses the following combination ofcharacteristics:

-   -   (a) abundantly and continuously forms attractive and long        lasting very double deep pink blossoms which exhibit a globular        rose shape,    -   (b) exhibits vigorous vegetation (in Los Angeles, Calif., USA it        retains the majority of its foliage throughout the winter        months),    -   (c) exhibits excellent resistance to frost, and    -   (d) is particularly well suited for growing in the landscape        because of its vigor, beauty, and ability to scale walls,        fences, and trellises when given such means of support        (absolutely no dead or dying canes having been observed).    -   (e) exhibits excellent resistance to Black Spot and powdery        mildew.

The new variety meets the needs of the horticultural industry. It can begrown to advantage as an attractive ornamentation in parks, gardens,public areas, and residential landscapes. I believe that it will enjoywide acceptance and usage, owing to its striking color and vigor. Italso grows particularly well in containers developing a fine, dense rootsystem on its own roots.

The new variety of Rosa hybrida climbing shrub rose plant of the presentinvention can be readily distinguished from the ‘Meiviolin’ variety(U.S. Plant Pat. No. PP6,892) by the marked difference in its color.Unlike the new variety, ‘Meiviolin’ is “creamy white in color edged withcarmine pink”. On the contrary, the color of the present invention is adeep pink in sharp contrast to the parental variety. The color of thebuds is noticeably darker as described below. Notice of this distinctionwas my first observation that a mutation had occurred. Although theparent variety is vigorous, the new variety is so vigorous as to have noneed of grafting on other rootstocks. This will serve it well ingeographical areas where particularly harsh or untimely freezes occur.New shoots coming from the ground are true to type and have successivelylarger size (caliper and length) than prior ones allowing the plant toexpand its reach quickly, proving its classification as a “climber”. Thescent, although similar to the parent, possesses a noticeably stronger,sweet, floral vintage rose scent. The number of petals varies withflower size, but averages from 70 to 80, while the flower of the parentaverages from 55 to 60.

The characteristics of the new variety have been found to be homogeneousand stable and are transmissible by asexual propagation from onegeneration to another. The plant has been successfully asexuallypropagated in Los Angeles, Calif., USA by rooted stem cuttings and havebeen reproduced true to type in successive generations. Thecharacteristics of the new variety are transmitted true to type from onegeneration to another by such asexual propagation. The plant propagateswell and grows very well on its own roots.

The new variety has been named the Margaret Mae variety.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make the same in color illustrations of this character,typical specimens of the plant parts of the new variety, as well as aspecimen of a typical plant of the new variety while growing in thelandscape. The rose plants of the new variety illustrated herein weretwo years of age and were grown in a cultivated residential garden atLos Angeles, Calif., USA. on their own roots. Photographs were preparedon Apr. 30, 2007.

FIG. 1—illustrates a specimen of a young shoot with leaves;

FIG. 2—illustrates a specimen of a floral buds before the opening of thesepals;

FIG. 3—illustrates a specimen of a floral bud at the opening of thesepals;

FIG. 4—illustrates a specimen of a floral bud at the opening of thepetals;

FIG. 5—illustrates a specimen of an open flower—plan view—obverse;

FIG. 6—illustrates a specimen of an open flower—plan view—reverse;

FIG. 7—illustrates a specimen of a floral receptacle showing thearrangement of the stamens and pistils;

FIG. 8—illustrates a specimen of a floral receptacle showing thearrangement of the pistils (stamens removed);

FIG. 9—illustrates a specimen of a main branch;

FIG. 10—illustrates specimens of mature leaves with 7 leaflets—planview—upper surface;

FIG. 11—illustrates specimens of mature leaves with 7 leaflets—planview—lower surface;

FIG. 12—illustrates specimens of immature leaves with 5 leaflets—planview—upper surface;

FIG. 13—illustrates a floral bud at the opening of the petals andillustrating the globular shape and large petal count of the flower;

FIG. 14—illustrates specimens of a typical multiple flowering plantswhile being grown in the landscape with the support of an iron trellis;

FIG. 15—illustrates a fully open flower, floral bud and leaves of theoriginal spontaneous mutation grown at Riverside, Calif., USA. Themutation was a single branch of five total branches on the parentalplant.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The chart used in the identification of colors is that of The RoyalHorticultural Society (R.H.S. Colour Chart). The description is based ontwo year old specimens of the new variety during May while grown in theopen air in Los Angeles, Calif., USA.

-   Class: Climbing Shrub.-   Plant:    -   -   Height.—Approximately 70 to 80 inches when growing on their            own roots in Los Angeles, Calif., USA.        -   Habit.—Climbing.-   Branches:    -   -   Color.—Young stems: light green, Yellow-Green Group 146D.            Adult wood: light green, Yellow-Green Group 146C.        -   Thorns.—Present. Incidence: 8 per 4 inches of stem. Average            length: ¼ inch. Color: Immature thorns: Moderate Yellowish            Green Group RHS 146C, Mature thorns: Light Olive Brown Group            RHS 199B. Shape: Concave to slightly downward hooked.        -   Texture.—The stems are smooth and lustrous in texture.-   Leaves:    -   -   Stipules.—Adnate, pectinate, wide and linear.        -   Petioles.—Upper surface: grooved, reddish-brown on young            foliage, medium green on mature foliage with more or less            glandular edges. Under surface: light green with some small            hooked thorns.        -   Leaflets.—Number: 3, 5, and 7 (most often). Shape: oval.            Serration: simple and regular. Texture: firm. Overall            appearance: dense foliage with a glossy to semi-glossy            aspect. Color (young foliage): upper surface: Strong            Greenish Yellow, RHS 151C; Suffused with a deep red tint.            Under surface: Brilliant Yellowish Green, RHS 154C. Color            (adult foliage): upper surface: Strong Yellowish Green, RHS            145A. Under surface: Light Yellowish Green, RHS 142 C.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Number of flowers.—Generally one blossom per stem.        -   Peduncle.—Smooth, green, straight, rigid, approximately 2.75            inches in length on average.        -   Sepals.—Greenish in coloration. Under surface: medium green            in coloration with a reddish tint, often with glandular            appendiculated edges.        -   Buds.—Shape: very double, globe shaped. Length:            approximately 1 in. on average. Color: upper surface: Deep            Pink, RHS 52B. Under surface: substantially the same as the            upper surface.        -   Flower.—Form: very double, globe shaped and opening fully            double, flattened oblate spheroid. Diameter: approximately 3            to 4 inches on average. Color: upper surface: Deep Pink, RHS            52C, edged with a thin border of Deep Pink, RHS 52B. Under            surface: substantially the same as the upper surface.            Fragrance: moderate, sweet, floral vintage rose scent.            Flower duration: long. Petal form: flattened with more or            less reflected edges. Petal texture: firm. Petal number:            approximately 70 to 80. Petal drop: good. Stamen number:            approximately 160 to 165 on average. Anthers: normal, straw            yellow in coloration and edged with dark ochre. Filaments:            normal, yellowish. Pistils: approximately 145 to 150 on            average. Stigmas: normal, straw colored, located beyond the            anthers. Styles: free, straw colored with a bright violet            top, of very irregular heights.-   Development:    -   -   Vegetation.—Vigorous.        -   Blossoming.—Abundant and continuous.        -   Aptitude to bear fruits.—None.        -   Resistance to frost.—Very good.        -   Resistance to diseases.—Excellent.

Plants of the ‘Margaret Mae’ variety have not been observed under allpossible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possiblethat the phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in the environment,such as temperature, light, etc.

1. A new and distinct variety of climbing shrub rose plant characterizedby the following combination of characteristics: (a) abundantly forms ona substantially continuous basis attractive clusters of fully doubleblossoms that are deep pink in coloration, (b) exhibits an uprightclimbing growth habit, (c) forms vigorous vegetation, (d) forms densemedium green foliage having a semi-glossy finish, and (e) exhibitsexcellent resistance to Black Spot and powdery mildew; substantially asherein shown and described.